close
Wine Scores
Below is a listing of the wine review scores we frequently reference in our notes. While these sources remain an excellent source of information, we always recommend that you trust your own palate. Scores in these publications often represent the personal taste of an individual critic, which may not always coincide with your own. We have a huge team of excellent wine professionals that can match wines you've had in the past with new arrivals that meet your flavor profile.
- Allen Meadows - Burghound
- Connoisseurs Guide
- Gambero Rosso
- James Halliday
- James Suckling
- Malt Advocate
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
- International Wine Cellar
- Wine & Spirits
- Wine Enthusiast
- Wine Spectator
- The Wine News
- Malt Advocate
Reviewers
AllK&L Email Alerts
Sign up to receive custom alerts, new arrivals and the latest happenings from K&L Wines
Staff Favorites - Scott Beckerley
Scott Beckerley
| Send Email
|
Subscribe to My Sommelier Service
I wear a number of “hats,” so to speak (covers my bald head well). I am an assistant manager at the SF store. I also manage the SF tasting bar and work sales as well. Working the sales floor allows me to explore different vineyards and regions. Luckily, there are opportunities at K&L to bounce around a lot. I’ve developed a preference for wines that are drier, more tart and more complex. Fruit bombs are not my thing like they were when I was, ahem, younger. I definitely prefer more terrior and wines that are “earthy,” particularly with some age on them. My advice? Trust yourself and try to keep track of what you have had that you like. Don’t let anyone tell you what you are supposed to like. Everyone has a different palate and that’s what makes this business interesting.
|
Reviews
| Page: prev 1 2 3 4 next |
Gosset "Brut Excellence" Champagne
Review Date: 1-20-2012
This lovely bubbly is excellent and is also a great value! Initially, it is rich with baked bread scents, vanilla and luscious yellow fruits. On the palate, it starts off rich and heady with rich mid-palate of Bartlett pears and fresh cream. The finish is a nice surprise, with bright acidity and just a hint of minerality. One of my favorite memories of this wine was having it with Caprese fare on a lovely warm night in Epernay. It was the perfect apertif!
Top Value!
Price: $34.99
2002 Daniel Ginsburg "Cuvée Rene Millesime" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 1-13-2012
Our staff tasted this Champagne just before Christmas in 2011. It is as impressive as ever! It has a wonderfully rich nose of pastry dough, caramel and golden apples. On the palate, there are the savory notes that you expect from Pinot Meunier but, they are balanced and delicious. This wine is a tribute to the late Rene Collard and a beautifully done one at that.
Price: $59.99
2008 Miguel Merino "Viñas Jovenes" Crianza Rioja
Review Date: 1-13-2012
This is a clean, traditional wine in the mold of the wines from Muga. Traditional but, with the twist of being accessible and not too earthy. Deep, dark cherry fruit with hints of spice and tobacco on the nose. The palate is dominated by bright cherry fruit with hints of raspberries and white pepper. Tastes great even after being open for a day or two!
Price: $19.99
2002 Bruno Michel "Pauline" Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne
Review Date: 12-13-2011
I tried this bubbly last month and again last Saturday, 10 December with some big names such as Krug, Grande Dame and Bollinger. This wines turned out to be one of the favorites, just after the 1998 vintage Krug. This is a fairly "big" style of blanc de blanc with a floral nose,rich fruit and evident oak. The classic notes of minerals and citrus are there as well, so this wine has something for everyone! It is simply stupendous and we have a limited number of bottles to sell. So, if you are pondering purchasing it, I would advise you not to wait.
Price: $64.99
Fluteau Brut Rosé Champagne
Review Date: 10-17-2011
This is the first time that we have carried this wine and it is marvelous! Deep and rich, with big pinot flavors of rich strawberries and dark cherries. Big enough to handle a main course and balanced enough to stand on its own! This is my favorite of the Fluteau line.
Price: $34.99
Caveau du Mont July Bugey Cerdon Rosé
Review Date: 9-22-2011
Fun in a bottle! Bright and lively raspberry and strawberry fruit. Young, fresh and semi-dry, this is the perfect choice for spicy Asian foods or to simply enjoy by itself. A customer favorite at our "International Sparkling Wine" tasting in August of this year.
Top Value!
Price: $15.99
Ariston Aspasie "Carte Blanche" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 9-2-2011
Excellent bubbles at an excellent price! For those of you who like Veuve Clicquot, this effort from Ariston has ample yeast and toast but, not too much. Golden apple fruit and hints of caramel and vanilla. Great by itself or with chicken, salmon or pork.
Top Value!
Price: $27.99
Marguet Pere et Fils "Cuvée Reserve" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 7-4-2011
Benoit MArguet's latest effort with his reserve Brut is one of his best. Made entirely of Grand Cru fruit with a highlight upon Pinot Noir (65%), which Benoit does best. It tends toward a richer style but, has yeast and toast for balance. Not too much. The toast and yeast add dimension but, do not overwhelm. A great price for an excellent Champagne!
Price: $34.99
2008 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac
Review Date: 7-4-2011
Worth every dollar and it deserves every high rating that it has been receiving. Dense and full, with blackberry and blueberry fruit. Pencil lead (as usual) on the nose with minerality and smoke. It is a joy on the palate with currant and blueberry fruit. Amazingly supple tannins. A cellar pick and I am giving it a Best Buy as it will age for 25 years plus and costs under $100.00.
Top Value!
Drink from
2018
to
2040
Price: $119.99
Billecart-Salmon "Brut Reserve" Champagne
Review Date: 4-12-2011
It's baaaack! While this wonderful Brut often gets overshadowed by the Brut Rose, it is one that should not be missed! Rich, yet focused, with peach and pear fruit. Ginger spice on the palate, with bracing minerality and firm structure. If you're looking to find almost everything in one Champagne, this is it!
Price: $44.99
Ruinart Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Review Date: 4-12-2011
All Grand Cru fruit in this delicious blanc de blanc. An excellent combination of yeastiness,stone fruits and citrus fruits. Classic finish laden with crisp minerality. Dosage of 8g. This is a slightly bigger style of blanc de blanc for those of you who don't like "Brut Nature" styles of blanc de blanc.
Price: $59.99
Rare Wine Company Historic Series New York Malmsey Madeira
Review Date: 3-7-2011
I had this Madeira at the same tasting that I had the Savannah from the same series and though different from the Savannah, it is just as intriguing. Where the Savannah tends towards the dry side, the New york tends towards the sweet. Where the Savannah is not bone dry, the New York is not super sweeet. It has a nose of candied oranges, coffee and candied bacon. Medium to full bodied. On the palate, toffee, date and hazelnuts. Like the Savannah, it is worth every cent!
Price: $49.99
Rare Wine Company Historic Series Savannah Verdelho Madeira
Review Date: 3-7-2011
We recently had a staff tasting of the wines of Spain and Portugal and had the opportunity to taste this excellent Madeira. I absolutely loved it. A nose orange peel and roasted nuts. This one is quite dry,though not bone dry, with flavors of almonds, nectarines and citrus. Worth every penny.
Price: $49.99
J Vineyards "Cuvée 20" Sparkling Wine
Review Date: 2-7-2011
One of my favorite domestic bubblies. A very pretty nose of white flowers and minerals. On the palate, green apples and grapefruit with a samll bubble and a creamy pear finish. All this at a very affordable price.
Price: $24.99
Gruet New Mexico Brut Sparkling Wine
Review Date: 1-6-2011
This wonderful bubbly from New Mexico is made by an established producer in Champagne, who fell in love with this region of the USA. Crisp, yet full-bodied, with a nose of green apples and citrus fruits. On the palate, green apples and cream with a toasty finish. A wonderful buy for the money!
Top Value!
Price: $13.99
| Page: prev 1 2 3 4 next |
